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the community centre from 2pm5pm. Doors open at 1.30pm. This is a great fun afternoon for the over 50s with lots of line and sequence dancing. Tickets cost £5 and include tea, cakes and a continuous flow of cold drinks. Entrance by tickets only; phone 01732 870715. Remembrance Services: This year there will be two services. The first service will be a short service held at the war memorial at approximately 10.55am on Saturday, November 11. No assistance is required for this service as it does not involve any road closures. The second service will be on Sunday, November 12 at the community centre starting at 9.45am. The parade will then assemble and march to the war memorial where a further short service will take place including the two minute silence at 11am. You may recall that for the last few years the parish council has appealed for volunteers to assist with the road closures for the Sunday parade as the police will no longer provide this service. If you are able to help out on the day as a road marshal or would like information, get in touch with the parish office on 01732 844749. The Scouts will again be serving refreshments in the Scout Hut following the Sunday service. All welcome. Early birds: The festive season is fast approaching. At the community centre on Saturday, December 16, there will be Todd Miller with his showband playing all your favourites and then on New Year’s Eve we welcome back the ever popular Peter Elligate Showband. Tickets £17 are on sale from the parish office contact 01732 844749 or admin@ dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk Staff needed: The community centre is looking for staff. If you enjoy working with people and would like some part time weekend work, either in the bar (this could be in the Kilnbarn Bar or one of the function bars) or alternatively you might prefer to join the caretaking/cleaning staff in looking after the many hirers here at the centre, there are roles available on a part-time casual basis. Although the shifts will mainly be at weekends, some evenings and occasional daytime cover may be required. Contact the parish office for information or an application form. Phone 01732 844749, email clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk Christmas shopping. There will be a selection of attractive presents including costume jewellery and scarves and much more. Jacinta welcomes bespoke commissions. Maidstone Postcard Club: Maidstone Postcard Club present their Saturday Postcard Fair including Postal History, Books and Ephemera on Saturday October 21 at the community hall, Grovewood Drive (near Tesco) from 10am- 3pm. Dealers from Southern England. Free admission with refreshments PARISH COUNCIL: Boxley Parish council met on September 4. Items relevant to Grove Green specifically include a report from the PCSO. There was a theft of a generator and impact gun from Newnham court Way overnight August 14/15 and sheds at the Crematorium broken into and items taken overnight August 10/11. Cllr Ivor Davies reported on the MBC Planning Committee concerning the STEM School, Grove Green decision. The decision had been deferred to allow committee members to receive more information and clarification on issues relating to the proposed and alternative access and adjustments to the travel plan. Cllr Davies reported that many of the Planning Committee expressed concern over the traffic impact and the catchment area of the school. The chairman asked that Cllr Ivor Davies receive a vote of thanks as he had curtailed his holiday to attend the meeting on behalf of the parish council. Five Acre and Wents Woods Weavering, after lengthy discussion it was agreed that MBC would be contacted about the possibility of having a wider Local Nature Reserve covering the two woods, Weavering Heath and the remaining remnant of Grove Wood ob Grovewood Drive North. Correspondent: Margo McFarlane, 13 Mercer Drive, Harrietsham, ME17 1AY Tel: 01622 859682 Parent governors: The primary school welcomed three new parent governors recently elected to the governing body. Mr Lewer, Mr Griffiths and Mr Jack will join the board immediately. Rainbows return: Following a brief closure earlier in the year, the youngest members of the Girl Guiding family, for girls aged five to seven, the Rainbow club will be re-opening on Thursday, November 2 from 4.30-5.30pm at the Booth Hall, Church Road on alternate Thursday to start with. If you are interested in registering www.girlguiding.org.uk or contact Kate on beaukate@btinternet.com for details. Halloween time: Join the parent, toddler and baby group to enjoy some Halloween fun, dressing up, crafts and themed food. The group meet every Thursday at the village hall, Church Road from 9.3011.30am. If you are new to the village and would like to meet other families and join the group, you would be most welcome. Details from Zoe on 07590 489591. HIB: Members of the Harrietsham in Bloom (HIB) volunteer group will meet on Monday, October 23 at 7.30pm in the village hall, Church Road. Committee members will hold the annual meeting which will be followed by light refreshments provided by the HIB committee. A look back at the summer planting and planning the autumn displays will be discussed. Committee members will be decided and future plans for the planters and flower beds confirmed. The group would like to thank all the volunteers who give freely of their time. New volunteers are always welcome to join the group. Details from the chairman on 01622 859352. Ticket time: HAMS pantomime tickets will be available soon. You can register an interest in tickets for Beauty and the Beast, which will be performed at the Lenham Community Centre on Friday and Saturday, January 19-20. Details on

tickets@hamsproductions.org Poems: A book of poems written by residents of the Len Valley Benefice is available at the church priced at £7.99, proceeds to the church. Mobile library: The KCC mobile library has a wide selection of books for all ages and you can order specific books. The van visits fortnightly and stops outside the post office in West Street between 1.30-2pm. Do support this service. PARISH COUNCIL: The hedge cutting service will be organised by the parish council during October. If you wish to have your name added to the list, contact the clerk. Remember, even if you have used the service before, you still need to add your name to the latest list. Contact 01622 850089 harrietsham@ aol.com Churchill: If you are interested in the iconic British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, then this month’s film depicting the days before the infamous D-Day landings in June 1944 is a must see! The entrance fee £3 includes refreshments, doors open at 7.30pm for 8pm start on Friday, October 27 at the village hall, Church Road. All welcome. Mune: The animated adventure film of the new guardian of the moon, working with the guardian of the sun to restore order in the world will be shown on Friday,October 20 at the village hall. This is a regular film club organised by the village hall trustees. Parish council: The next meeting of the council will be in the Booth Hall, Church Road on Wednesday, October 25 at 7.30pm. Current planning applications will be available for inspection before the meeting. The public are welcome to attend and speak during public discussion at the beginning of the meeting. Trustee vacancy: Following a recent resignation, a vacancy for a volunteer committee secretary Bingo success: The first bingo night organised by the history society was well received and enjoyed by many. The funds for the war memorial paving project received a much needed boost by the sum of £326. If you would like to purchase a brick for the paved path at £20, your kind donation can be sent to the history society. The group meet at the village hall on the third Monday of each month, so the next meeting is November 20 at 7.30pm. Contact the chairman on 01622 851075 for details. Display success: The Rev Millie Hart met her alter ego, when she and the team of hard working volunteers welcomed more than 100 visitors to the St John the Baptist church in Marley Road, to enjoy the fantastic array of scarecrows all lovingly made by individuals, local businesses and village group members. The event was organised by the Friends of St Johns, to help raise funds for vital building maintenance and improvements. The lunch club was kept particularly busy serving 60 plus lunches on the Saturday. The array of groups showing their craftsmanship in producing some colourful scarecrows represented all age ranges. The Guides, Cubs, Scouts and primary school represented the younger parish members. Village hall user groups submitted displays, from the whist club, wives group, to the fish scheme, the parish council and the Harrietsham in Bloom group. The church was represented by the bell ringers, choir, Len Valley Readers and Flower Guild, complimented by the individual entries, too many to mention.